Water vapor injector

ABSTRACT

An internal combustion engine is provided with a carburetor operatively connected with a water injector means. An automatic transmission is operatively connected to the engine, and transmission fluid from the automatic transmission passes through a heat exchanger in a watertight container of the water injector means to cool the transmission fluid and to heat the water in the container to produce water vapor which is then mixed with the gasoline in the venturi tube of the carburetor.

United States Patent Inventors Laurel J. Short;

Pedro S. Parra, Fort Wayne, 1nd. Appl. No. 840,209 Filed July 9, 1969 Patented Jan. 5, 1971 Assignee Ardee Corporation Fort Wayne, kid. a corporation of Indiana WATER VAPOR INJECTOR 10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 123/25, 123/198 Int. Cl ..F02d 19/00, F02d 47/00, F02b 77/00 Field of Search 123/25, 25.1, 25.11, 25.21, 25.31, 25.41, 25.6, 41.31, (inquired) [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,068,414 7/1913 Courtenay 125/25 2,748,755 McCutcheon l/l Primary Examiner-Mark M. Newman Assistant Examiner-Ronald B. Cox Attorney-Hood, Gust & Irish 1 ABSTRACT: An internal combustion engine is provided with a carburetor operatively connected with a water injector means. An automatic transmission is operatively connected to the engine, and transmission fluid from the automatic transmission passes through a heat exchanger in a watertight container of the water injector means to cool the transmission fluid and to heat the water in the container to produce water vapor which is then mixed with the gasoline in the venturi tube of the carburetor.

WA 7' VIM INJEC TOR 34PM 727R PATENTED JAN 5 ml SHEET 2 OF 2 "Wan-j I s n A 0 N H R T pm N AQm /T v L WATER VAPOR INJECTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a water vapor injector for use with internal combustion engines such as used in automobiles and the like.

The advantages of water vapor injection in internal combustion engines have been recognized for many years. One of the problems encountered in water vapor injection arrangements is the provision of suitable means for producing the water vapor. It is a principal objective-of the present invention to provide an effective means for producing water vapor which also serves an additional useful function.

In most modern automotive vehicles, automatic transmissions are employed in conjunction with the internal combustion driving engine. Such automatic transmissions employ a transmission fluid which is excessively heated during operation of the transmission and which requires cooling in order to obtain most efficient operation of the transmission.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, the water vapor injector means is operatively connected with the venturi tube of the carburetor to provide water vapor to the carburetor.

The water vapor injector means includes a watertight con tainer which receives water therein. A heat exchange means is disposed within this container and receives fluid from the automatic transmission whereby the heat exchange means serves the dual function of cooling the transmission fluid and further to heat the water in the container to produce water vapor which may be injected into the carburetion system of the associated vehicle.

The present invention also incorporates a control valve which controls the flow of water vapor to the engine in accordance with the operating speed thereof. There is no requirement for the injection of water vapor into the carburetion system at idling speeds of the engine, and accordingly the control valve is so arranged as to substantially restrict or entirely block the flow of water vapor to the carburetor when the engine is idling. On the other hand, the control valve is arranged to open and increase the flow of water vapor to the carburetor as the engine speed increases. The control valve is operated by the vacuum created by the engine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a schematic illustration of the water vapor injector arrangement of the present invention as'utilized in connection with an internal combustion engine and associated automatic transmission;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the water vapor injector according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of one of the heat-transfer baffles utilized in the container of the water vapor injector;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view through the control valve of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the water vapor injector system of the present invention is illustrated schematically in FIG. 1. A conventional internal combustion engine 10 is provided with the usual carburetor 12. The crankshaft 14 of the engine is connected with an automatic transmission 16 which in turn is connected with the drive shaft 18 for the associated vehicle such as an automobile or the like.

The water vapor injector of the present invention is indicated generally by reference numeral 20. A first conduit 22 is connected between the automatic transmission and the heat exchange means within the water vapor injector as hereinafter described. This heat exchange means is in turn connected by a conduit 24 with a conventional radiator 26 having conduits therein for the transmission fluid. The conduits for transmission fluid in the radiator are in turn connected by a conduit 28 back to the automatic transmission whereby the transmission fluid is adapted to circulate in. the direction indicated by the arrows.

The water vapor injector is also connected by a conduit 30 to the venturi tube of carburetor 12 for providingwater vapor which mixes with gasoline in the carburetor so as to provide the desired effect of water injection in the engine in a wellknown manner.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the water injector includes a watertight container comprising a generally cylindrical sidewall portion 40 having heat dissipator fins 42 secured to the outer surface thereof to prevent overheating of the container. The container includes a bottom-closed end cap 44 and a top cap 46, these caps being rigidly secured through the sidewall portion. The top cap has a plurality of holes formed therethrough, a first pair of holes in the top cap receiving rigid tubular members 48 and 50 which are sealed with respect to the top cap and which are operatively connected with the end portions of conduits 22 and 24 which preferably comprise rubber hoses. These rubber hoses may be secured in place by hose clamps or the like if so desired.

A control valve indicated generally by reference numeral 52 is secured in a further hole in the top cap 46 and is sealed with respect thereto. This control valve is operatively connected with one end of conduit 30 previously described, this conduit also preferably comprising a rubber hose which may be secured in place by a hose clamp or the like if so desired.

Tubular members 48 and 50 comprise opposite legs of a generally U-shaped heat exchange means including a lower tubular connecting bight portion 60. This U-shaped heat exchange means receives transmission fluid, and during operation of the engine, the transmission fluid circulates therethrough so as to cool the transmission fluid and heat the water disposed within the container.

A plurality of disclike heat-transfer baffles 64 are secured to tubular portions 48 and 50 of the heat exchange means in spaced parallel relationship to one another as seen in FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 4, each of members 64 includes a pair of struck-up tubular portions 66 and 68 which snugly receive the portions 48 and 50 of the heat exchange means, members 64 being suitably held in position as by brazing or the like.

Each of members 64 also includes a plurality of holes 70 formed therethrough at one side thereof. These holes permit water and air to circulate within the container. The outer periphery of each of members 64 fits snugly against the inner surface of sidewall 40 of the container, and portions 48 and 50 of the heat exchange means fit snugly within tubular portions 66 and 68.

Members 64 are so arranged within the container that alternate ones of members 64 are reversed with respect to one another so that the holes 70 therein are disposed at opposite sides of the container. As a result, water and air flowing through the container are forced to follow a-tortuous path indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3.

Heat dissipator fins 42, portions 48, 50 and 60 of the heat exchange means, and members 64 may all be formed of a suitable material of good heat conductivity such as copper or the like.

An L-fitting 74 is connected with a lower portion of the container and is in turn connected with a transparent length of tubing 76 by a hose clamp "73. Tubing 76 may be formed of a suitable material such as nylon or the like, this tubing serving as a fluid level indicator. As shown in FIG. 3, the level of the liquid in both the container and tubing 76 is indicated by reference characters L.

A three-position filtered air intake control cap 80 is provided on the upperend of tubing 76. This cap can be removed for filling the containerwithwater, and it servesas an air me- ,teringmeanswhen in place on the upper end of tubing ;76.

i As seen most clearly in FIG. 2, the cap includes a hole 82 formed therethrough. A rotatable disc 84 isdisposed in overlying relationship to hole 86 and has three metering orifices 86, 88 and 90 formed thereth rough. Disc 84 is also. provided with a central kerf for adjustably rotating the disc. It is apparent that different ones of the metering orificesformed through the disc may be aligned withthe underlying hole 82 in the cap so that the amount of air passing into the container can be selectively controlled. The amount of water'vapor flowing from the container to the carburetor may be controlled by the sizeofjhe air-metering orifice. The larger the orificerthe greater the volume of water vapor which flows through the carburetor. As shown, three orifices of varying size are provided. Any suitable number of orifices may be provided as desired.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the control valve,for controlling the flow of water vapor from the ,containerto the carburetor is illustrated. The control valve includes abody 100 having an end wall 102. An annular rowof holes'10..4 is provided in the end wall, and a central threaded hole receives an elongated threaded stud 106.

A valve seat l20,is supported by valve body 1100. Whenthe .engine is idling, the vacuum created bythe engine is at a maximum and is sufficient to overcome the force of spring 1 14 whereby valve member 110 is drawn upwardly as seen'inElG. 610 seat against the valve seat lthereby closing off the flow 'of water vapor from the container to the carburetor.

When the engine speeds up, the vacuum drops, and spring 114 moves valve member 110 toward .the fully opened-posi- ,tion as seen in FIG. 6. In this manner the flow of water vapor from the container to the carburetor increases as the engine speed increases.

As the'transmission fluid flows through the heat exchanger :of the water vapor injector during operation of the apparatus,

the transmission fluid is cooled by the water in the container. The water in the'container is simultaneously heated so asto produce water vapor in that portion of the container above the liquid level therein. This water vapor is in turn'transmitted to the venturi tube of the carburetor, the .flowof such water vapor being controlled by the control valve in accordance with the speed of operation of the associated engine.

As this invention'may be embodiedin severalforms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, vthe present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since the scope of the invention is-defined by the appended claims rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes ,that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as -well as conjointly cooperative equivalents, are therefore intended to be embraced by those Claims.

'Weclaim:

l. in combination, an internal combustion engine, a.carburetor operatively connected with said engine, an automatic transmission operatively connected to said engine and having transmission fluid atherein, water vapor injector means .con-

nected to said carburetor toprovide water vapor thereto, said water vapor injector means including a container receiving water therein, and heat exchange means in said container, said heat exchange means being operatively connected with said automatic transmission for receiving fluid from said transmission to cool the transmission fluidand to heat the water in said container to reduce waterfvapop; Y 1

2. Appara us as defined in claim l-includmg a combination water-filling means and air intake means operatively connected with alower portion of said container.

3. Apparatusas defined in claim ,Zlwherein said combination water' filling means and airintake means includes an air .rmeteringorifice.forcontrolling the amount of air passing into said container. I l

4. Apparatus as defined in claimvlincluding control means for controlling the flow ofwater vaporit'rom said container to saidcarburetor so as'to reduce flow of water vapor at idling speeds of said engine and to'increase flow of water vaporas the engine speed increases. I

.5..Apparatus as'de'fined in claim 4 wherein said control means comprises a valve, resilient means normally 'biasing 'said valve to an open position, and a valve seat against whichthe valve closes under the influence of vacuum produced by said engine and against the force of said resilient means. 1

6.'twater vaporrgenerating apparatus including a container having upper'and'lower closed ends, a heat transfer conduit .mounted within. said container and operatively projecting through one of the ends of said container, valve means in the upper portion of said container responsive to pressure change for controlling the flow of vapor from said container, and means connected to the lower portion of said'container for controlling theflow of atmospheric air into said container.

7. T he apparatus of claim -6 in which said conduit is U- shaped and the ends thereof are operatively secured to the upper end of said container, said valve means includes a valve .seat and a valve movable selectively intoand outof engagement with said .valve seat, said valve seat defining anopening which is closedbysaid valve when the latter is seatedand opened when unseated, said last-mentioned means including an upright tube connected at its lower end to said container, and aclosure forthe upper end of said tube, said closure 'having at least one air-metering orifice therein.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 'in which said valve means .further includes abody having a passage therein which communicates with the interior of said container, said valve and valve seat beingmounted inside said passage, a valve support secured tosaid 'body and being positioned adjacent to said .valve seat, said valve being movably mounted on said valve support, and a spring carried by said valve supportengageable with said valve .to yieldably urge the latterto open position.

9. The apparatustof claim 7 in which said closure includes anadjustable valve for controlling the volume of air flowing .into said container, said adjustable valve including a cover having a ,plurality of different-sized orifices therein and a movable plate provided with an aperture selectively registrable with said orifices.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 in which a plurality of heattransfer baffles are located within said container in vertically spaced relation, said baffles being disclike and arranged. in parallelism with said conduit passing therethrough and-being engaged therewith in heat-exchanging relation, said baffles being perforated at'locations such that the perforations of ad jacent baffles are misaligned toprovide a tortuous path for the .flow of air through said container. t 

1. In combination, an internal combustion engine, a carburetor operatively connected with said engine, an automatic transmission operatively connected to said engine and having transmission fluid therein, water vapor injector means connected to said carburetor to provide water vapor thereto, said water vapor injector means including a container receiving water therein, and heat exchange means in said container, said heat exchange means being operatively connected with said automatic transmission for receiving fluid from said transmission to cool the transmission fluid and to heat the water in said container to produce water vapor.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a combination water-filling means and air intake means operatively connected with a lower portion of said container.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said combination water-filling means and air intake means includes an air-metering orifice for controlling the amount of air passing into said container.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including control means for controlling the flow of water vapor from said container to said carburetor so as to reduce flow of water vapor at idling speeds of said engine and to increase flow of water vapor as the engine speed increases.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said control means comprises a valve, resilient means normally biasing said valve to an open position, and a valve seat against which the valve closes under the influence of vacuum produced by said engine and against the force of said resilient means.
 6. Water-vapor-generating apparatus including a container having upper and lower closed ends, a heat transfer conduit mounted within said container and operatively projecting through one of the ends of said container, valve means in the upper portion of said container responsive to pressure change for controlling the flow of vapor from said container, and means connected to the lower portion of said container for controlling the flow of atmospheric air into said container.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which said conduit is U-shaped and the ends thereof are operatively secured to the upper end of said container, said valve means includes a valve seat and a valve movable selectively into and out of engagement with said valve seat, said valve seat defining an opening which is closed by said valve when the latter is seated and opened when unseated, said last-mentioned means including an upright tube connected at its lower end to said container, and a closure for the upper end of said tube, said closure having at least one air-metering orifice therein.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which said valve means further includes a body having a passage therein which communicates with the interior of said container, said valve and valve seat being mounted inside said passage, a valve support secured to said body and being positioned adjacent to said valve seat, said valve being movably mounted on said valve support, and a spring carried by said valve support engageable with said valve to yieldably urge the latter to open position.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7 in which said closure includes an adjustable valve for controlling the volume of air flowing into said container, said adjustable valve including a cover having a plurality of different-sized orifices therein and a movable plate provided with an aperture selectively registrable with said orifices.
 10. The apparatus of claim 7 in which a plurality of heat-transfer baffles are located within said container in vertically spaced relation, said baffles being disclike and arranged in parallelism with said conduit paSsing therethrough and being engaged therewith in heat-exchanging relation, said baffles being perforated at locations such that the perforations of adjacent baffles are misaligned to provide a tortuous path for the flow of air through said container. 